Happy 7th Birthday to SMOONSTYLE!!! Time to celebrate with a 'little' looking back Chit Chat and an international giveaway.
I can't believe it has already been seven years since my first post! The excitement of pushing the 'publish post' button for the very first time and the thought that I am going to share my favorite things and thoughts with the world was exhilarating.

Going a bit down SMOONSTYLE memory lane, I decided to browse through some of the earlier posts. This will be rambly, consider yourselves warned ;)

My blog is in a way a digital diary. Same goes for Instagram, but that is another subject and another post most likely. Some posts made me laugh, cringe, a little embarrassed, and some made me a bit sad like the two times I've lost my dear cats. I also wanted to share the bad days with you, because we all have them. The time I had to cancel a tour because my dad almost died. Thank you for your kind words during the darker days. It cheered me up and made me feel stronger.

I can tell that majority of you enjoy the Chit Chat posts the most, because they are the most personal of them all. Also the most spontaneous.

How it all began.

My passions besides music have always been photography and make up artistry. Lately, photography has been taken over. It meant that the quality of the pictures that I put online, have improved a lot. The first couple of posts where quite horrendous!

I put more thought and work into photographing products before putting the post online. I make the photos way ahead of creating a blog post. That is mostly because at home I have better light to photograph. After I've made the photos, I sometimes run out of time to finalize a post and it has to wait until I have the time to sit behind the computer. Often during the tours I have more time. At home, my priorities shift as you might be able to understand. I am in the kitchen a lot as you can see through Instagram.

Through SMOONSTYLE, I have met a lot of amazing people and also have been giving great opportunities. The reason why I started the blog back in the day was to answer the many questions from fans that I received through the years. Doing my own make up and hair, creating stage outfits with other designers, and styling myself for the countless photoshoots that I've done in my life.

I loved doing videos and photoshoots for Epica. These are the times where I can go wild with make up and clothes. A lot of outfits that I wear during video- and photoshoots I don't wear during the shows, because they are not very comfortable. No nip slips for me please.

Giveaway!

One of my must-have items for any make up girl that travels a lot. I am talking about the My Beautylight. This literarily has saved my make up sessions on the road numerous times! Not only is it great to have on the road, but also during the dark winter mornings or in bathrooms with bad lighting. I have used it even during a videoshoot with Epica (Universal Death Squad), when I film small tutorials for Instagram, and take beauty shots. I LOVE it!! Such a handy little light. It is super lightweight and extremely powerful!

The Beautylight is a small LED lamp that comes in several different editions. Some of them are 'The Basic' 6500 Kelvin (daylight), 'The Glamour' (five different light temperatures) and 'The Frame' premium edition.

To celebrate the 7th birthday of SMOONSTYLE, I am giving away one of 'The Basic' Beauty Lights in silver. Here you can find some more information about it: Basic Edition.

This is an international giveaway! It's my small way of saying thanks for your love and support! All you need to do in order to win, is leave a comment and tell me which was your favorite blog post.

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It is so hard to put a finger on what my favorite post is! I love the chit chat posts, but I think one of my favorites was the one in which you talked about a little photoshoot at the beach in Brazil. I like the contrast of your hair and outfit in the pictures with the white sand and blue sky. I have been reading your posts since the early days, pretty much, I believe it's been about six years. I rarely comment because I'm that shy, but I think it's only fair to let you know that what you do here is noticed and highly appreciated by me! I wish you and the blog all the best!

My all time favorite blog posts are the "Movie Star Make Up" series. I really wish you could come back with those posts because all of them were so beautiful and artistic, especially the one of "The girl with the dragon tattoo"

Just saw you in Boston at the meet and greet! Thank you for remembering my bracelet! My favorite post is the one with Vincent's 2nd birthday talking about his birthday, tractors and chocolate. It is called something like Two Years of Cuteness :). It is so nice to see how you balance the many facets of your career, and let us into your normal family life. I also have a lot of respect for the measures you take to protect Vincent's privacy and safety.

I love all of yours posts, and your photos are always amazing and unique. Reading your blog is like listening to a friend, I like how you mix makeup with your everyday life, work and travel. I love makeup but, sometimes, "beauty guru" 's posts/videos are too long and confusing and I get bored quickly; your posts go straight to the point and I love the way you write, it's like talking to a friend instead of a stranger �� . My favourite post was the one about the behind the scenes of Storm The Sorrow music video, i loved how you described the incredible work behind such a beautiful video. It was such a nice read. I wish you all the best for your blog

Hi Simone! As far as I can remember ny favorite post was the first you put a photo of your cat. It is a silly thing ahahha but I thought it was so sweet because the relationship any of us makes with our pets it's magical. Like love and complicity without words, and in a certain way I felt like you were trying to share that with us. Anyway, I love your entire blog, never gets boring! Hope you enjoy it as much as we do Greetings from Chile!

Oh dear Simone. I don't think I had ever thought about having to pinpoint just ONE blog post as my favorite of yours. To think that you were the one that got me into collecting eos lip balms! (I can't even find that post anymore... i remember you saying you hated the medicated tangerine one). Now my eos collection is glorious thanks to you. Your post about hypnobirthing is one that I've shared a lot in other mommy groups; and the post where you said you married Olivier was probably the most surprising and heartwarming. I remember the beautiful elizabeth taylor makeup look you recreated, i still drool over vincent's cakepops.

But the one that made me admire your strength the most; is precisely the blog post that shares the terrifying experience of almost losing your dad. It made me realize how tough the rockstar life really is. It's a life of sacrifice; it means you have to be away from the ones you love (be it a sick father, a loved partner, or a newborn son...) It made me realize you don't deserve all of the negative criticism you get from some other haters. You have clinged to epica for over fifteen years; almost with no vacation between albums and tours. You have stood strong and steady despite all the lineup changes; in a music genre particularly known for unfairly sacking female singers. You have developed your voice over the years, you have enchanted millions of people, with lyrics like "Tides of Time" or "Canvas of Life". All of these things that you have done are simply admirable... and that was the blog post that hit me hardest. It made me realize how fragile and delicate we really are.

You see, I'm a 3D animator and a high fashion model. People often tell me that I look too pretty to be geeky or that I don't look like I'm smart enough to pull off a 3D render all by myself. In a way I feel that you and I are somewhat similar, because your fashion blogger friends must think "oh she's so hardcore... scary!" And your metal friends or colleagues often must think "oh she's a total barbie" because that's the kind of double life that I also have to go through myself. People like you inspire others; like myself, to not let stereotypes define our lives or put tags to what we do or are. We break the mold, and a tremendous amount of strength is required to break through despite all of the darkness surrounding us!

I love the chit chat posts and all your photos but definitely my favorite was the post of your experience with the hypnobirthing, just imagine that you can enjoy this beautiful moment with tranquility is wonderful. I remember thinking how I didn't know before the method because my sister was going to give birth days after your post. But now that i know i hope that when I have a child can do it this way. Congratulations for these 7 years to come many more. Hugs from Mexico.��

My favorite posts are the chit chat series, in particular "eye of the needle" because it shows a very deep shade of your soul, your fears and all your love for your family. I follow your blog before I start to listen to Epica: yes, it's strange, I know :') A big hug, Simone

I really like your reviews of make-up items! I'm a "poor student" (studiefinanciering is stopgezet) and to be able to read honest reviews before spending money is saving me quite a bit. Also, I like it when you talk about german/dutch make-up brands, because they are quite good value for money (like catrice eye shadows for example). Congrats on the 7 years and I hope we can say in 3 years that you hit 10!! ����

We'll it's so hard to choose a favourite as everything is a delight to read! I do especially like your make up and beauty bin reviews as I then go foraging in eBay to look for the recommended items.However as a mum ten years your senior I really found your becoming a mummy blog the most joyous! And subsequent posts where you mention how it is trying to juggle family, work, health, beauty etc interesting. You are such an inspiration!

I love all your blog posts..but I have a soft spot for travelling..so my favorite are travel posts..if i had to choose one it'd be the one in Osaka..the golden hour in osaka..amazing photography!loved it so much!maybe i'll get the chance to visit this beautiful place at some point..Congratulations on the seven years-been here since day 1-and to many more to come!xoxo

I haven't been following your blog for very long so I feel like it's hard to choose! When I first came here I saw that you were starting to write more about beauty stuff.

I'd say my favourite post was about one of your Sephora hauls where I saw that you got some products that I use too such as Urban Decay's Heavy Metal glitter liner in Distortion. I know it doesn't seem like much but as a fellow lover of the product, I was stoked to see one of my favourite singers use ot too. Your posts about your makeup hauls no longer make me regret any splurges I've made and the reviews on the products are very well thought!

Hello Simone, I'm very happy with the evolution of your page. 😄🎉I always take time to read your blogs, personally I'm a mess in makeup, but I like to read what you share in your free time. ❤Personally, I thank you for taking the time to share a little more about yourself. I love you a lot, greetings from Argentina! 😘🇦🇷❤(I'm sorry for muy English 😅)

I would say, that as an Epica fan, seeing your posts about what you back to bring with you on the road and your adventures on tour is great to see. I love seeing the beauty products that are worthy of wearing on stage and that can last, and last. I have actually bought some of your recommended products for travel and cosplay and I have been very grateful that you wrote about them, like Kryolan. Thanks for all of the sugestions regarding makeup perfect for sensitive skin. Also, the light would be perfect for on the go makeup fixes at all the conventions I go to, especially for makeing sure there is no fallout on a costume I spent months working on.

My favorite Smoonstyle post is "Beautiful Artwork" Why? Because you have shared my artwork in it. It was me, an 18-year-old, introverted, pessimistic and shy, "artist-wanna-be" girl from Poland. You have no idea what your reaction to my artwork meant to me. YOU made me believe in myself. Because of YOU I worked on my skills as a digital painter to be better and better every day! YOU are the reason why I create more artworks and YOU are my biggest inspiration! In my dark times you have shown me the light :)

Wow, I first want to say THANK YOU!for share all your adventures and experiences in your daily life, you don't have an idea how important is that for us (or at least for me) I really love to learn about you and what you know about photos, make up, traveling and music. You inspire me to study music and of course SING❤ So I love ALL the post that you make, but I love it most when you share your funny and sad experiences because is a part of you and I really appreciate that. I hope that this blog never end and we can have it for a thousand years more!! Love you and congrats for all you have done��❤

Hello Simone, happy Smoonstyle bday!<3 :* It's hard to say which post is my fav because I love all of them. I am thinking maybe in the one of our mexican snack called "Pico de Gallo" or Vincent's birth. The stage make up ones though.I am a graphic designer trying to improve in photography, I might do it with a Nikon D5600 to start and a 50mm lens. What camera did u start professional photography? I send kisses to u and good luck everyone! <3

Dear Simone,Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us for 7 years now. My favorites posts are the ones about makeup (cause I love make up 😁💄) and the cutest ones about Vicent too!! Epica is one of my fav bands so far! 🤘🏻

Hi Simone! I love all of your posts, but there was one that made me very emotional, that was when you did a photoshoot at the end of your pregnancy. You had a nice big belly, it was autumn ... I was wondering how much you should be anxious and happy. And I was happier, especially with the post reporting how it was to give birth to Vincent in so natural and beautiful way. I'm sure you're a wonderful mom! Keep doing what you do. Thank you for inspiring me every day.

Hi Sisi! I love tour blog, because It is so artistic and particular! But the two posts I liked more are the ones about photography and art. I love your photos, for example the post about the Golden hour in Osaka: those photos are amazing, I've always wanted to visit Osaka, but I never had the opportunity, so visit Osaka trough your eyes has been magical. I also appreciated so much the post about Frida Khalo and Salvador Dalì, 'cause I study history of art at University and Dalì is my favorite painter, so when I read that you like him I was so surprised!So your blog is Amazing because is about all the things I love: music, art, photography and makeupKisses from ItalyLinda

Simone, I love you and Epica. Its amazing to read about your makeup, lifestyle... I fell in love with your makeup at the dvd we will take you with us. It was a pink/red eyeshadow and lipstick that combined a lot with your skin tone and blue eyes. Can you please recreate this makeup in a post? And tell wich products you wore at the dvd (eyeshadow and lipstick).. Thank you since now, sweety! ;)

I love the posts about your travels, above all the outdoors post, it makes me see everything from your eyes and in another perspective and I love that. And above all, the amazing pictures you take are simply beautiful and fantastic.Kisses from Chile, love you.

Wow! Seven years already? I pretty much remember when you first started blogging!😮 Congratulations and thanks for being here with your readers!I LOVE the beauty bins, but my favorite post of all is the one you wrote about hypnobirthing. It is so complete, detailed and you wrote it so well that if I were to deliver, that would be how I would want it!Love, Larissa